We discuss all things to do with plastic enclsoures and thier applications in the electronics industry.

February 2015 - SIMCO Disclosures

Choosing the best enclosure to protect electronic devices can really be confusing and taxing for some. There is such a wide range of enclosures available that makes it more confusing for consumers. From plastic to metal, from cheap to expensive, and from light materials to heavy duty, one just can’t decide which the right fit is. Before you head out and buy yourself a plastic enclosure, it is best to answer these essential questions to learn what you truly need.

The first question to ask is where are you going to install your electronic device? Are you installing it outdoors or indoors? If you are installing your device indoors, then the best suited plastic enclosure for you maybe a polyester plastic or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. These plastic materials are best suited indoors because of its weak resistance to heat and direct sunlight. Both also have good moisture resistance which make it a better choice for indoor installation. Lastly, both are cheaper options that other plastic enclosures mixed with fiber glass and stainless steel enclosures.

If your answer to this question is outdoors, then you must choose a plastic enclosure that can withstand different elements of weather like rain, wind, snow, sun, and the like. The best plastic enclosure for outdoor use is the poly carbonate one. Aside from its reasonable price, plastic made from poly carbonate can withstand extreme heat and extreme cold temperatures. It also can survive an acidic environment, which means it can withstand rain.

There are also sub questions that you can ask yourself. For example if you are installing indoors, will it be mounted on the wall or on the ceiling? Or if you are installing outdoors, will it be installed on the roof or out on the garden? There are quite a number of available ready-made plastic enclosures for wall-mounted or roof-mounted devices; however there is also an option to have the plastic enclosure custom-made. The latter is of course more expensive than the former.

What?

The second question to ask is what is the function of your device? If your device is a meter, for example electric meters where frequent readings are done, then you need a transparent plastic enclosure or a plastic enclosure with a transparent lid. If the device is not a meter, then you can opt to get a fully opaque plastic enclosure. There are actually more choices with the fully opaque plastic enclosures. There are opaque enclosures that have shallow settings and some have deeper settings and both are available for indoor, wall-mounted devices. Again, if none of your desired plastic enclosure is readily available, you can have a custom-made one but expect it to be way more expensive that the ready-made ones.

How much?

The third question to ask is how much your budget is. People usually make their choices according to the budget available; however it is almost always proven that cheap does not really last and does not always do the job. This is the reason why this question is placed third on the list. Do not buy according to how much you can spend. You must know first the kind of quality you need. It is definitely cheaper to buy ready-made plastic enclosure as what has been mentioned previously. Plus, plastic enclosures are way cheaper than the old enclosures made from stainless steel or pure fiber glass. To give an idea, small plastic enclosures (0.5 inch x 1 in x 3 in) sold retail can be as cheap as $3.00 a piece.

The last question to ask is why buy plastic enclosures? There are a handful of reasons why consumers choose plastic enclosures and why experts also recommend it. The first and probably the most important for consumers is its cost. Plastic is cheaper than its competitors: metal, wood, fiber glass, stainless steel. Despite its cheaper costs, the new age plastic enclosures are durable and lightweight. Plastic enclosures can survive weather and time, plus it definitely does not rust unlike metal.

The second and probably the most important reason for the experts is its electrical resistance. This means that plastic is not a conductor of electricity which makes it safe for consumers. Aside from this, the new plastic enclosure does not spark electronic arcing which does not discharge current that can cause fire or ground.

Another reason is aesthetics. Since plastic is easily formed, it can have a variety of designs, shapes, and sizes. This gives the consumers a variety of options which can suit their budget and their taste.

In Closing

Now choosing the best plastic enclosure for your device is less confusing and more enjoyable. You can now head to your friendly neighbourhood hardware or go online and purchase the plastic enclosure that will fit your requirements and needs.

Enclosures are used in the industry to cover a wide range of devices. Most industrial places have these boxes. You can also use the cases to carry other items apart from those found in the industry. The boxes are very important because they protect tools from dust, water, and chemicals, among others. Some of the materials that makers use for enclosures include fiberglass, stainless steel, aluminum, and sheet metal. In the same way, enclosures come in different sizes. There are also those covers that are fixed while others are portable.

A further division of the portable covers gives both handheld and pocket size types. Handheld covers range between 6 and 11 inches in size. They are slightly bigger than pocket size covers, which measure about 3 inches.

You can use pocket sized covers to carry many types of equipment. Common uses of pocket size covers include infrared devices, radio frequency (RF) devices, personal security tools, medical gadgets, and measurement tools. You can also use these cages to carry small things such as jewelry, mobile phone, keys, and media players.

So, why would somebody use a cover as small as the pocket size one instead of the bigger ones? The main feature of these kinds of enclosures is that they keep the equipment in a fixed position. Therefore, pocket size enclosures have the following advantages:

Reasons You Need Pocket Size Enclosures

Pocket Size Enclosures Can Be Changed Easily

It usually easy to alter certain covers, especially those made from plastic. However, the job is even easier if you are dealing with a pocket size enclosure. As long as you have the right machine, working with a small device is easy. Modern VMC milling machines can produce customized products with very high degrees of accuracy.

When the customization is being done from a standard part, the part must first be secured on the machine. Then, the drawing of the desired part is loaded into the machine and the right tools as well. Then the operator starts the machine so that it can create the slots, holes, tapings, and so on. If you are to do such kind of change, you will find pocket size covers very easy to handle. Whatever material you are using, small covers will always be easier to machine, drill, chamfer, and so on.

Movement of certain cages is very important, if you desire to use your device in different places. For example, people are nowadays walking around with medical tools, media players, and cameras. If there were no small sized cages, users may have to think twice before carrying such delicate devices. Makers are able to make pocket size cages that cover small devices for better use and security.

The main use of a pocket size case is to make a device easier to carry. Some devices do not have good handles and carrying them can be a problem. Pocket size cases solve this problem very easily.

The Cases Have Higher Resistance to Damage

Impact resistance is simply the ability of an object to resist breakage in the event of a sudden force against it. When a case falls, it suffers an impact. The larger the object is, the higher the effect of the impact will be, and vice versa. Most manufacturers create enclosures with the consideration of this resistance in mind. However, you can draw an extra advantage by going for pocket size cases, if your device is small enough.

Even for the small devices, the maker has the option of using large cases. However, it is better to make pocket size covers and use less material. This is very important if you look at the cost of production. By using small sized covers, companies are able to save a lot of money and make more profits.

Outward Appearance

The look of any product is very important. If the good is not so attractive in its normal form, you can use a pocket size covers to hide the “flaws”. Some companies have also taken pocket size cases as a way of marketing. You can add certain features of your business, for example the logo or tag line, on top of an enclosure to market your business. This is an easy yet effective form of marketing. Whenever the user removes the enclosure in front of people, your business will have gained some mileage in terms of reach.

Final Take

There are many types of cases in the market. These covers vary in terms of size, material, weight, and design. Each of these covers has its own share of advantages and disadvantages. When you are choosing a pocket size enclosure, be sure that it can handle the size and weight of the device. You also need to know the level of modification needed to decide if the pocket size enclosure can handle it. This way, you will be able to experience the many advantages of pocket size enclosures.